Lighter



Apri11,1941. @.RSCHMlT-r' 2,237,117

LIGHTER Filed March 10, 1937 nvnvAvA VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 LIGHTER.

George Philip Schmitt, New York, N. Y., assigner, by mesne assignments,to Cardinal Products, Inc., a corporation of New York Application March10, 1937, Serial No. 130,157

6 Claims.

This invention relates to lighters which employ a catalyst for ignitingcigarettes and the like, wherein the vapor of alcohol or othervaporizable liquid carried by absorbent material is employed foreffecting such action upon the catalyst, in the presence of atmosphericair, as will render such catalyst incandescent, so that the cigarette orthe like `applied thereto and drawn upon, may be ignited.

This invention concerns improvements with relation to .the type oflighters disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,189,999 and 2,160,002.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ecient,practical, yand economical catalytic lighter having parts constructed insuch manner as to enable the same to be cheaply and expeditiouslyassembled .together -to form the complete lighter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid tightcatalytic lighter whereby the uid may be retained therein for arelatively long 4time and wherein the catalyst is completely sealedduring the inoperative period of the lighter when .the cover is closedthus preventing lany association of the catalyst with the fuel vapor.

This complete sealing and segregation of the.

catalyst from the fuel during inoperativeperiods of the lighter has beenfound to be highly desirable for it is known that if the catalystremains under the influence of fuel vaporfor a prolonged period when thelighter is closed condensation 'will form on the catalyst andrender itinactive until the catalyst has been dried out. The condensation isaggravated by the fact that the atmospheric air which is mixed with thefuel vapor carries moisture.

It is a further object of this invention .to-provide means forincreasing the rate of flow of the fuel charged air to the catalyst whenthe cigarette is drawn upon by the smoker. This object is accomplished-by taking advantage of the theory that (within limitation) the rate ofow increases with a decrease in the size of the opening through whichthe fuel vapor and air miX is made to flow, and providing a baille todeflect part of the fuel vapor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the` aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinationsand arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a catalyst lighter in closed inoperativeposition, Ithe catalyst holder and attached arm being shown in full.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged View (upper pant) of y,the device shownin Fig. 1 with the cover open and thevcatalyst unit in operativeposition.

Fig. 4 is a top view of Fig. 3, but on a reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a catalyst and holder employedin the lighter shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View of a catalyst and holder employingthe invention in a modified form.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan View of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the catalyst arm and holder or retainer.

Fig. l0 is a perspective View of the cover hinge.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe who-le.

It Will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that ythe same may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is 'submitted merelyas showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.4

Referring to the drawing the embodiment lof lighter therein disclosedcomprises a housing or casing I-I having integral side Walls 2% andbottom 2 I; the side walls converge to form the arcu-v ate end walls 2U.Although the casing or housing may assume any desirable shape it ispreferable that the same be made streamlined as seen in Figs. 2 and fi.The casing may be made of any suitable material, composition or metaland is adapted to contain a vaporiZa-ble fuel vehicle.

The lighter has a cover 25 which is hingedly connected at 2t' by meansof a pin 26 to the ears It of the hinge member 21 provided at 'thetapered end A and which fits under the cap 28 of the lighter. The cover25 and cap 2Sv complete the closure means, A top plate 22 forming theupper Wall of the casing or fuel chamber has a fuel opening 4S and anair duct or vent l5 provided in its raised portion 50, Top or coverplate 22 is secured to the inside of side walls 20 a predetermineddistance below the top edge 23 providing a pocket 24 for the catalystand its operating mechanism. Plate 22 extends from end to end of thelighter providing :a leak-tight corn,- partment therebelow. Extendingfrom vent l5 to near the bottom 2| of the casing is a tube or passagewayIt. Within the casing is a wick il which acts as an absorbent for thefuel which may be alcohol fed into the casing through opening 49. Uponthe .top plate 22 a combined catch plate and slideway 29 is superimposedone end of which has an upright lock member 30 carrying a stud or pushbutton 32 extending through an opening I8 in end B of Ithe casing. Theother end of slideway 29 has another upright member 30 from whichextends a pin or arm 34 which enters a hole in the upright tongue 36 ofthe hinge member 21. Y

A helical compression spring 31 encircles the arm 34. Spring 31 isarranged so that normally the button 32 protrudes through opening` I8 inthe position shown in Figs. 1-4. By pressing the button 32 inwardlyagainst the force of spring 3`|` an opening 3| in the raised end 30 ofplate 29 may be caused to release or engage a stud or pin 33 on the capor cover 25. The slideway 29 has an opening 15 so that in any positionit does not obscure the opening 49 or |5. Slideway 29 has anotheropening 16 through which projects slightly a resilient gasket 39 whichmay be in the form Vof a pad or cushion of rubber or rubber compositionor the like secured to top plate 22 near the end B of the lighter. Thefunction of this pad 39 is to seal the opening at the bottom of catalystshell or holder 38 when in an inoperative position as will hereinafterbe more evident. Another gasket or pad 40, which may be made of materialsimilar to pad 39, is secured to the inside or underface of the hingedcover 25, which is engageable with the top of the catalyst holder 38 toseal the top thereof when the cover is closed and the lighter is not inuse. These two resilient cushions, 39 and 40, by sealing the top andbottom of the catalyst holder 38 prevent any moisture entering oraccumulating within the holder 39 or condensation forming on thecatalyst C during the inoperative'period of the catalyst or lighter.Such moisture or condensation if allowed to exist would considerablyslow up the heating of the catalystV and may render the catalystinoperative.

The catalyst holder 38 is press fitted into or otherwise secured to theband portion 46' of a slide L having the lateral channels 46. An arm orpusher 4| has one end bifurcated, the extremities of each limb 4|' beingpivotally attached at 43 to the band portion 46 of the slide L.

The other end of the pusher is bent upwardly and inwardly to provide asleeve or housing H enclosing a helical spring T having its free ends T'bearing against the downwardly-turned lateral ears E of a hinge member44 pivotally attached to the pusher arm 4| at its sleeve H by means ofpins 42. Spring T has a centrally located loop T" bearing against thetop surface of member 4I whereby member 44 is urged downwardly in thedirection of arrow W. Hinge member 44 carrying pusher 4| is providedwith a longitudinally disposed raised portion 44 anda projection 45. Inassembling the member 44 and pusher 4| with respect to cover 25, raisedportion 44' is sprung past hinged pin 26 of the cover 25, whereby hinge26 will grip the member 44 between the raised portion 44' and theprojection 45- It is understood that hinge pin 26 is located closeenough to cover 25 so as to provide space for the thickness of the metalof member 44, only, thus requiring the raised portion 44' to be sprungpast the hinge pin 26. In this manner the member 44 is removablyattached to cover 25. Due to the fact that hinge member 44 is attachedto pusher 4| in such a manner that spring T will force hinge member 44downwardly in the direction of arrow W and due further to the novelattachment of member 44 to cover 25, this same spring action will alsoswing or force open cover 25 when button 32 is pressed inwardly. The twochannel members 46 provided on base plate or slide L slidably engage thesides 41 of slideway 29 and guide the slide L upon opening and closingof cover 25.

Referring generally to the catalyst unit indicated in Figs. 5-8 by thenumeral 38, the same fuel opening 49.

comprises. a shell, cup or holder which may be Vflared at its top asindicated by the numeral 66.

p Fig. 5 shows holder 65 as having an opening 61 surrounded by a flange10 forming the bottom of the holder. Seated on flange 1U is a disk 68havingthe perforations or openings 69 and over this disk is a ring-likespacer or gasket 1| vproviding a fuel chamber 12. Seated on spacer 1| isa wire screen S made preferably of an alloy of nickel and copper, suchas, for example, what is generally known in the trade as monel metal.Above this screen is located the catalyst which is here shown as beingin the form of a pellet, block .or disk C having a slightly curvedsurface and which may be composed of a suitably spongy platinumcomposition or the like. Above catalyst C is located a protective frontcovering or shield S' for the catalyst, which may be in direct contactwith the latter. Covering S' is preferably a wire screen made of analloy of nickel and chromium and which may be of the type known underthe trade-mark nichrome. Covering S' and catalyst C are held in place bymeans of a retainer ring R preferably made of the metal alloy known asmonel or the like. For this purpose the retainer ring R which iscup-shaped is inverted and its annular wall press fitted between theside walls of the catalyst and holder. Retainer R has an opening topermit contact of a cigarette with screen S for igniting purposes.Instead of employing the separate perforated disk 68 the bottom of theholder may be provided with the desired perforations or openings. Such astructure is shown in Fig. '7 where the bottom 10' of holder 14 isprovided with the perforations or openings 13, the ring-like spacer orgasket 15 being interposed between the screen S and holder bottom 10 toprovide the fuel chamber 12. Catalyst C is shown as being provided withperforations P.

In the preferred constructions of the catalyst unit shown in Figs. 5-8,inclusive, three relatively small perforations or openings 69 or 13 areshown, the centers of these perforations defining three points or apexesof a triangle formed by the/lines joining the same and surrounding thecenter 0 of disk or plate 68 or the center 0 of the bottom 10 of holder14.'

It is particularly to be noted that there is no n perforation at therespective axial centers D, 6 of the bottom members 68, of the catalystunit 38. The advantage of this construction will be made evident as thedescription proceeds.

When cover 25 is open, i. e., in the operative positionv the catalyst Clies vertically above the In closing and opening cover 25 pusher 4| willcause holder 65 to reciprocate over fuel opening 49, and when the cover25 is closed the holder 65 will slide away from opening 49 to aninoperative position as seen in Fig. 1.

Arm 4I carries on its underside a gasket 60 which may be convenientlysecured by providing the arm with lateral flanges 6| having bent-overfingers 62 embedded in the gasket 60. This gasket may be a pad of rubberor rubber composition or the like. When cover 25 is open pad 60 is clearof the fuel opening 49 and air vent I5, but when the cover is closed arm4I moves holder 38 to the position shown in Fig. l, and the pad 6B isbrought into a position over the openings 49, I5, the cover, due to pad40, exerting a slight pressure to ensure that the pad effectively sealssaid openings.

To localize the wick or absorbent material I1 for providing a vaporspace theresurrounding, an upper screen or perforated plate 63 and alower screen or perforatedv plate 64 may be provided which are spacedfrom the top and bottom, respectively, of the casing producing therespective fuel vapor and air passages 16', 11. The wick I 1 and screens63, 64 may be confined within the casing so as to provide the fuel vaporand air passages 18, 19. Tube I6 passes through the screens 63, 64. Acomplete circuitous path is thereby provided on either side of tube IBfor the commingled fuel vapor and air to reach the catalyst C.

It will be evident from the above that when cover 25 is closed the fuel4chamber is sealed and the catalyst unit 38 is removed from the fuelopening 49, whereas on opening cover 25 the unit 38 is brought into anoperative position. A cigarette or the like held against the screen S ofthe catalyst unit 38 will be lighted if suction be applied by drawingupon the cigarette, owing to vapor and to air (entering the casingthrough duct I) mixing in the passages in the casing and entering thechamber 12, 12 in the catalyst unit through the perforations 69 or 13,in the presence of the catalyst, incandescing the latter.

After the fuel vapor flows through the fuel opening 49, it impinges uponthe bottom'l 10' or plate 68, since there is no perforation in thecenter thereof in line with the fuel opening 49. The bottom 1D or plate68 at its imperforate center 0 or D' acts as a baille and deects vaporwhich impinges thereupon. 'Ihe vapor which is not deflected flowsthrough the perforations 69 or 13 into and fills chamber 12 or 12contacting the catalyst. Since the rate of ow increases is greater thesmaller thel opening through which the vapor passes, providing a fewperforations in the bottom or plate 68 rather than a relatively largeopening therein, considerably increases th eiiiciency of the device.

Holder 65 may be provided on its inner surface near the top with a band19 of luminous paint or other suitable luminous material to facilitateguidance of the cigarette into the cup or holder, particularly in thedark.

As heretofore stated the catalyst unit 38 has the slide projections 46which lockingly engage with the slide rails 41 of slideway 29. Pusherarm 4I and member 44 are relatively urged angularly by the spring Twhereby the arm` 4I is urged downwardly and the cover is urged outwardlyor upwardly. Upon partial closure of the cover 25, the pusher arm 4Iwill slide the catalyst unit 38 oi slide rails 41 onto the narrowportion 48 of the slideway, thereby permitting the catalyst unit 38 andslide arm 4I to be swung upward about the pivot 42 for relling thecontainer 20 with fuel, the relling being accomplished by pouring thefuel through opening 49 in the plate 22.

I claim:

1. A lighter comprising a casing having a fuel chamber with an openingfor egress of the fuel, a catalyst unit, means for arranging said unitover and removed from said opening, respectively, said unit comprising acatalyst and a holder for the catalyst, said holder having a perforatedbottom member adapted for communication with said opening and an opentop for admission of the tip of a cigarette or the like; and means forsealing the top and bottom of said holder when the latter is removedfrom said opening,

2. A lighter comprising a casing having a fuel chamber with an openingfor egress of the fuel,

a catalyst unit, means for arranging said unit over and removed fromsaid opening, respectively, said unit comprising a catalyst and a holderfor the catalyst, said holder having a perforated bottom member adaptedfor communication with said opening and an open top for admission of thetip of a cigarette or the like; and means for sealing the top and bottomof said holder and said opening when the latter is removed from saidopening.

3. A lighter comprising a casing having a fuel chamber with an outletfor egress of the fuel, a catalyst unit, means for arranging said unitover and removed from said outlet, respectively, said unit comprising acatalyst and a holder for the catalyst, said holder having a bottom withan opening adapted for communication with said outlet and an open topfor admission of the tip of a cigarette or the like; and a yieldableelement to abut against the bottom of said holder in air sealingrelation when the latter is removed from said outlet.

4. A lighter comprising a casing having a fuel chamber with an outletfor egress of the fuel, a catalyst unit, means for arranging said unitover and removed from said outlet, respectively, said .unit comprising acatalyst and a holder for the catalyst, said holder having a bottom withan opening adapted for communication with said outlet and an open top'for admission of the tip of a cigarette or the like; and resilientelements to abut against the top and bottom of said holder in airsealing relation when the holder is removed from said outlet. y

5. A lighter comprising a casing having a fuel chamber with an outletfor egress of the fuel, a catalyst unit, means for arranging said unitover and removed from said outlet, respectively, said unit comprising acatalyst and a holder for the catalyst, said holder having a bottom withan opening adapted for communication with said outlet and an open topfor admission of the tip of a cigarette or the like; and resilientelements to abut against the top and bottom of said holder and saidoutlet in air sealing relation when the 'alyst and a holder for thecatalyst, said holder having a bottom with an opening adapted forcommunication with said outlet and an open top for admission of the tipof a cigarette or the like,

and resilient elements to abut against thetop and bottom of said holderand said outlet in air sealing relation when the holder is removed fromsaid outlet.

GEORGE PHILIP SCHMITT.

